Obituary: Jessie Westmoreland

She was born in Woodland, N.C. on Oct.11, l910 to William and Josephine Parker.

She is survived by her loving husband, Colin McNary Westmoreland and her daughter, Missy Anderson (Doug), daughter-in-law, Jan Westmoreland-Sipes (Derrell). She was predeceased by her son Mac Westmoreland and her brothers Kelly Parker, Waverly Parker, William Parker and sisters Gradie Vashaw and Corinne (Sheenie) Barnes. She was blessed to have five grandchildren: Ty Anderson (Jennifer), Alison Cody (Jason), Jessa Stewart (Heath), Roddey Sutton (James), Maxcy Westmoreland; and seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Jess graduated from the University of N.C. at Chapel Hill with a degree in elementary education. She so enjoyed all facets of teaching for almost forty years ... educating beyond the classroom.

She met Colin and married in 1942. Jess grew up in a home filled with laughter and music and lived life to the fullest! After retiring, she started painting, was an avid bridge player, and continued her "career" teaching and loving her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She sang in church choirs throughout most of her life. Playing the ukelele and singing … she was the life of the party. Membership in PEO and volunteering with the ABLE program were important and special to her. Jess and Colin loved to travel and included family members on many memorable excursions.

Truly her greatest role in life was loving her family and we are forever grateful for how she played that role … she never once missed a line.

Visitation at the home of Missy and Doug Anderson was held Thursday Aug. 8. A memorial service was held at Myers Park United Methodist Church on Friday, Aug. 9, with a reception at Jubilee Hall.

The family wishes to thank Luz Dary Rios, Laurie Westbrook, and Ladelphia McNair for their wonderful caregiving and the exceptional care given by Jess' doctors.